Deck 2: The Texas State Constitution and the American Federal System

Question 1

The theory of popular sovereignty holds that all power

A) will ultimately be progressively distributed.
B) is distributed by popular vote.
C) is given to the people by divine right.
D) rests with the people.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The notion that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to government to protect those rights is embodied in

A) the traditionalistic subculture.
B) social contract theory.
C) the individualistic subculture.
D) popular sovereignty.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The Spanish constitutions contributed what key element to the political climate of Texas?

A) limited government
B) property rights for women
C) decentralization of decision making
D) decreased executive power

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Discussion of the executive department is in Article __ of the Texas Constitution.

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Question 5

Why might the partisan election of judges be cause for concern?

A) judicial decisions may be politicized
B) the rule of law would be eliminated
C) campaign fundraising could distract judges
D) campaign functions mean less time for trying cases

Question 6

Which constitution was pejoratively known as the "carpetbagger's constitution"?

A) U.S. Constitution
B) Republic of Mexico's constitution
C) Republic of Texas Constitution
D) Reconstruction constitution

Question 7

Discussion of the legislative department is in Article __ of the Texas Constitution.

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Question 8

Ideally,a constitution should be

A) detailed and specific.
B) frequently amended.
C) brief and explicit.
D) unable to be amended.

Question 9

Why does the Texas Constitution create a fragmented executive branch?

A) to limit the power of the governor
B) poor writing that had the effect of fragmenting the executive, though this was not intended
C) to raise the status of the legislature
D) a requirement established by the U.S. Congress in order for Texas to be readmitted to the Union

Question 10

What does the Texas Constitution contain that the U.S.Constitution does not?

A) Bill of Rights
B) separation of powers
C) legislative member qualifications
D) equal rights amendment

Question 11

Discussion of the judicial department is in Article __ of the Texas Constitution.

A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Question 12

In addition to a preamble and appendix,how many articles are contained in the Texas Constitution?

A) 10
B) 17
C) 27
D) 776

Question 13

Article 6 of the U.S.Constitution contains the ________ clause establishing the U.S.Constitution as the law of the land that no federal or state law may violate.

A) preemptive
B) establishment
C) supremacy
D) primacy

Question 14

The articles of the Texas Constitution that define the creation and structure of counties in the state provide for a fairly ________ system that counties are required to abide by.

A) flexible
B) inflexible
C) simple
D) centralized

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT among the characteristics shared by all state constitutions?

A) the requirement that citizens approve any changes
B) a fear of strong executive authority
C) popular sovereignty
D) separation of powers

Question 16

Which constitution was the first to govern Anglos in Texas?

A) U.S. Constitution
B) Republic of Mexico's constitution
C) Republic of Texas Constitution
D) Reconstruction constitution

Question 17

Under the Texas constitution,the power to tax resides with

A) the governor.
B) the legislature.
C) the judiciary.
D) the bureaucracy.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT a power of the Texas legislature?

A) propose laws
B) oversight of state agencies
C) propose constitutional amendments
D) appoint judges

Question 19

Article 1 of the Texas Constitution covers the

A) powers of government.
B) legislative department.
C) executive department.
D) Bill of Rights.

Question 20

The current Texas Constitution was approved by voters in ________.

A) 1866
B) 1876
C) 1886
D) 1896

Question 21

Between 1975 and 2013,the Texas legislature proposed 299 amendments for voter approval,and of these,voters accepted ________ percent.

A) 44
B) 65
C) 73
D) 85

Question 22

Many reformers believe the Texas Constitution is in need of a comprehensive revision.Why is this unlikely to happen?

A) strong distrust of government
B) high levels of satisfaction with the existing process
C) strong distrust of reformers
D) "Lone Star" pride in having the longest state constitution

Question 23

By what authority did the U.S.Congress create a national bank in 1790?

A) U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Marbury v. Madison
B) Article 8 of the U.S. Constitution
C) Interstate Commerce Clause
D) Necessary and Proper Clause

Question 24

Which of the following is an exclusive power of the national government?

A) regulate interstate commerce
B) conduct national elections
C) regulate banks
D) provide education

Question 25

Which of the following aspects of the process of amending the state constitution contributes to low voter turnout?

A) odd-year elections
B) low interest in the issues
C) confusing ballot wording
D) All of these answers are correct.

Question 26

The system that provides for a sharing of powers between the national government and the state governments is known as

A) federalism.
B) unitarianism.
C) confederation.
D) separation of powers.

Question 27

A __________ form of government leaves the most power with state and local governments.

A) federal
B) confederal
C) unitary
D) monarchical

Question 28

What was the result of a bill introduced in 1999 calling for a general revision of the Texas Constitution?

A) It was defeated in a floor vote.
B) It was not approved by the citizens.
C) It died in committee.
D) It was inadvertently placed on the wrong calendar and was ignored.

Question 29

Most countries in the world have a __________ form of government.

A) federal
B) confederal
C) unitary
D) binary

Question 30

Nineteenth century federalism

A) continued unchanged through the twentieth century.
B) saw the federal government dictate even the smallest aspects of state and local government.
C) saw the federal government dominant over states.
D) saw states dominant over the federal government.

Question 31

A(n)____ grant is for broad purposes and gives state and local governments a significant amount of discretion in how the money is spent.

A) categorical
B) block
C) formula
D) earmark

Question 32

Discuss how the Texas Constitution is a good example of how limits can be placed on the power of a state government.Use specific examples.

Question 33

Explain why the 1869 Reconstruction constitution was unacceptable to Texas's existing political culture and how it influenced the subsequent 1876 Texas Constitution.

Question 34

At 376,006 words,which state's constitution is the longest?

A) Alabama's
B) Louisiana's
C) Mississippi's
D) Texas's

Question 35

Why are state constitutions amended more frequently than the U.S.Constitution?

A) The U.S. Constitution has built-in limits.
B) State constitutions deal with a wider range of functions.
C) Voter initiatives have a higher rate of approval than those amendments proposed by state legislatures.
D) The legislature can approve state constitutional amendments.

Question 36

After World War I,the Supreme Court required states to adhere to basic protections in the Bill of Rights through the use of clauses in the _________ Amendment.

A) Tenth
B) Eleventh
C) Fourteenth
D) Eighteenth

Question 37

Most state constitutions

A) are relatively brief.
B) create strong executives.
C) say nothing about taxation and spending.
D) have been amended many times.

Question 38

List the characteristics of the ideal constitution.Does the U.S.Constitution live up to these ideals? Does the Texas Constitution? Explain.

Question 39

Which amendment to the U.S.Constitution contains this statement? "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution,nor prohibited by it to the States,are reserved to the States respectively,or to the people."

A) Ninth
B) Tenth
C) Eleventh
D) Twelfth

Question 40

Except in the state of Delaware,two steps are involved in changing constitutions:

A) a constitutional convention and citizen approval.
B) voter initiative and legislative approval.
C) legislative initiative and approval by constitutional convention.
D) proposal of amendments and citizen approval.

Question 41

Discuss the first five articles of the Texas Constitution.What are the key characteristics of each?

Question 42

In light of the conditions that lead to low voter turnout,what changes could be made to increase voter participation? Which political subculture represented in Texas would probably favor lower voter participation? Why?

Question 43

How does the United States Constitution regulate relations between the states? What are the practical consequences of this regulation?

Question 44

List the four reasons the piecemeal process of amending the Texas Constitution every two years will likely continue.

Question 45

How has the United States government used its power to compel states to enact certain policies,such as a minimum drinking age of 21? Why is this power controversial?

Question 46

What key aspects of the United States Constitution have allowed the federal government to have more power than state governments?